Reader Spotlight: Semjon Becker

Meet Semjon Becker, a bassist from Germany who got his start standing up his father’s guitars and tried to emulate the double bass. Years later, he and his dad reflected on that story, and his dad bought him a bass.

Semjon is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story…

Bio:

Hello, fellow bass players! I am Semjon Becker, 23 years old, currently studying mechanical engineering and loving music on stage and in the studio. Always traveling between a very technical and a very emotional world, I am challenging myself to find a balance between both (if there is any) and complement each other. I grew up around music and designed und built my own computer when I was younger – I guess I just can’t lose hold of any of those sides of me.

Location:

Always a stone’s throw away from my university in Aachen and my hometown Siegen, both NRW, Germany.

Day gig:

After I talk to my boss at the institute about that new prototype, I set up that 3D-printer, click “start,” rush home, pick up my bass, travel 2,5 hrs by train to finally sit down with my friends in the studio and hit the strings! Wait, is that what they call a job?

Years experience:

If I remember correctly since 2008. Time flies!

Bands & Gigs:

Yes! Besides various individual jobs and sessions, the one steady band I have is a jazz fusion quartet called “4 Wheel Drive”. This project is very special to me because all band members decided to make music out of pure passion and without any restrictions that usually encounter in commercial environments and affect your creativity. You don’t travel 5-6 hrs for a 2 hrs rehearsal if you’d only do it for the lettuce – it’s just from the heart.

Gear:

I play Yamaha basses, mainly a TRB 5-String made in Japan from around the 90’s

Elixir Strings

LOXX Security Locks

Markbass Amps

Mono Cases

Why I play the bass:

My father used to lean his electric guitars upstanding against the sofa. And when I was a kid, I occasionally watched the orchestra on TV and tried to imitate the upright bass players by picking up the electric guitar (that was standing as tall as me) and strumming on it, as it was an upright bass. Sitting with my family at Easter, years later in my teens, we merrily remembered that story and decided to buy me a bass. Best decision ever!

My bass superpower/claim to fame:

I think I studied Tom Kennedy’s bass solos in such an extent that allows me to sometimes anticipate and sing along his new solos as I hear them.

My influences:

In my early years, I listened to the Dave Weckl Band, Chick Corea, and Mike Stern almost exclusively because that’s what I grew up with and considered to be a very free approach to music. Later on, it was Robben Ford, James Taylor, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Muse, Christian Aguilera; I could go on forever… Today it’s Snarky Puppy and Vulfpeck. I love you, Joe Dart! <3